Vol. 2, Issue 1, Part A (2025)

Background: Effective communication with children who have behavioral disorders remains a persistent challenge in clinical practice. Traditional verbal communication often fails to meet the needs of children diagnosed with conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and conduct problems, resulting in reduced cooperation, increased distress, and inefficient care delivery. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of structured multimodal engagement strategies incorporating visual, sensory, and relational tools on the quality of interaction and emotional comfort during clinical encounters.
Methods: A total of 240 children aged 5-16 years were randomized equally into two groups: usual care and multimodal engagement. The intervention included visual schedules, sensory aids, co-regulation techniques, and collaborative decision-making. Primary outcomes were Interaction Quality, Emotional Comfort, and Cooperation, while secondary measures included Caregiver Satisfaction, Escalations, and Visit Duration. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, reporting mean differences, 95% confidence intervals, and Cohen’s d for effect size.
Results: Children in the multimodal engagement group showed significantly higher Interaction Quality (4. 13±0. 56 vs. 3. 12±0. 72), Emotional Comfort (3. 65±0. 57 vs. 3. 17±0. 66), and Cooperation (82. 5% vs. 59. 2%) compared to usual care. There were fewer behavioral escalations (0. 36±0. 58 vs. 0. 92±0. 86) and shorter visit durations (21. 8±3. 5 vs. 24. 4±4. 0 minutes), along with higher Caregiver Satisfaction (4. 31±0. 44 vs. 3. 69±0. 58). Effect sizes were large for primary outcomes, indicating both statistical and clinical significance.
Conclusion: The study establishes that multimodal engagement strategies substantially improve clinical communication, emotional safety, and cooperation among children with behavioral disorders. Implementing such approaches within pediatric nursing practice can enhance care efficiency, reduce stress, and promote positive experiences for children and families. Integration of visual and sensory supports, brief staff training, and consistent fidelity monitoring are strongly recommended to sustain these benefits in routine healthcare settings.